OPINION: WHY IS THERE SO MUCH SUPERFLUOUS SPENDING IN THE LACEY BOE BUDGET?

I’m sure many people are curious how superfluous expenses get into the Board of Education budgets.

These expenses, unfortunately, are allowed by the N.J.A.C. (the New Jersey Administrative Code) 6A under which the School Board/School District operates:

http://www.state.nj.us/education/code/current/title6a/chap23a.pdf

Also, the unions demand these benefits, such as the mileage reimbursements, custodial clothing allowances, and the payment of professional dues. These are all acceptable and common place expenditures.

However, all local boards can choose to eliminate these perks (as people in the world outside of public service call them).

In hard economic times, difficult decisions must be made. Someone on the school board needs to look out for the taxpayers. There has been no evidence of this with a steadily climbing budget and declining student achievement. Put class trip money back in the budget and eliminate the clothing allowances for custodians and coaches. Give the students the life changing inspiration that might occur on a class trip. Many students never leave the borders of Ocean County. Class trips serve to broaden every child’s horizon.

There are many other perks, other than those I’ve citied, that need to be worked OUT of the next contract.

I asked in public last year what concessions did the District get during the previous contract negotiations? One of the Board members on the negotiation team changed the subject and the answer I got was nothing- no immediate givebacks to help the taxpayers.

I asked the Business Administrator privately, what concessions could he name from the previous contract? He cited a cap was put on sick day payout of $15K at retirement …. But the taxpayers won’t reap the benefit of that concession for about 20 years. The cap was for new hires! I asked anything else? And he couldn’t recall another item.

Doesn't anyone on the School Board want to make Harry S. Truman proud and say "The buck stops here!"??

Third letter in a series.

Respecfully submitted,

Regina Discenza, Lacey

(609) 693-6454